Our Refuge and Strength

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Ps. 46:1-2

This week has been a mixture of trial and blessing for the people of our community. We have continued with the Basic Seminar, and many have a new vision of what God could do through them as they learned how to live in freedom from sin in their daily Christian walk. The number jumped from 16 the first session to almost 30 registered and attending the sessions. Among these are several who are depending on God to be their strength as they apply newfound Scriptural principles to their lives.

We did feel a light earthquake here on Tuesday, which was just enough to be uncomfortable -- we can hardly imagine the utter devastation that took place in Haiti about that same time. We have many Haitians here in our community, some of which attend our church and are taking advantage of every opportunity to grow in Christ. Many have not heard from their families, and are going through a very difficult time just not knowing. What a blessing it is for them to have GOD as their refuge and strength! Throughout the week, the Dominicans and Haitians have become closer, putting aside the racial and historical differences and conflicts. Many Dominicans now speak of the Haitians as their "neighbors," and instead of emphasizing the differences speak of the island of Hispaniola as a whole belonging to all of them, making them "one."

Please pray for the continued efforts of many to help the Haitians, and for the many people who still know nothing of their family, that God would give His strength to them at this time, and that many would seek refuge in Him.

New Year -- New Opportunities

This year has gotten off to an exciting start for the Bible Church of Juan Tomás and Fountain of Life School. Many teachers and students have come back from Christmas break with renewed energy and new goals for their lives spiritually, in their homes, and in the school. Juan Tomás Bible Church is pictured below with an open door -- many church members are looking forward with anticipation to the many opportunities to present the Gospel of Christ as an open door to eternal salvation.
It is a blessing for us to begin the year with the first ever Basic Seminar in the Dominican Republic. Although we have only had two days so far, we are already seeing the benefit of this seminar to the lives of our people. Due to scheduling difficulties, we began on Friday, and will be finishing in just over a week. We began this rapidly planned Seminar with 16 people the first night, and the number has grown as others have been invited. On Saturday (yesterday), having gone partway through the Principle of Authority, several people raised their hands to share how God was speaking to them, and how they could apply these teachings at home to win family members for Christ. They are grateful for the opportunity to learn these Scriptural principles, and grateful to those who made it possible for them to take the Seminar at almost no cost. We are all excited about what God is doing with our church and school this year, and are praying for the continued revival of the believers and the winning of the village of Juan Tomás to Christ.

For the Glory of God

Last week brought Final exams and an increased flurry of activity to prepare for Christmas events that will take place later this week. As teachers and students redouble their efforts to finish out the semester well, there has been an increased focus on WHY we should do things well -- namely, for the glory of God.



Over the past week, many students have diligently worked on final projects, drama rehearsals, and Christmas songs. It has been a joy to see their enthusiasm for sharing what they have learned with their families this coming Thursday morning in the school presentation. Please pray for the students and parents as this program takes place, that hearts will be open to the Word of God.

The Bible Church of Juan Tomas is also planning a special Christmas service on Sunday, the 20th. As we invite people from the village to this service, we are praying that God will put the desire into the people's hearts to come and hear the Gospel message.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

The Season "Navideña"

The last two weeks have been packed full of activities, planning, and rehearsals as both the church and the school have geared up for the Christmas season and the end of a school semester. It seems very strange to this Georgia girl to be getting ready for Christmas programs in this warm, sunny weather, in which the birds are singing, everything is green, and flowers are blooming! Nevertheless, Christmas songs are being sung and decorations are beginning to be seen on the school grounds. Although the Dominicans typically begin the Christmas season early in November, the Americans here in Juan Tomás FIRST celebrated Thanksgiving, which we shared with some close Dominican friends. Who knows, maybe we will eventually turn Thanksgiving into a Dominican Holiday!!

I would like to say here that I am VERY thankful for my friends, family, and the churches at home who have taken on my support either financially, in prayer, or both. I have learned that the work can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining, but PRAISE GOD, I have never had to "run on empty." God gives the strength needed for each new challenge, and I know that if I have any success, it is by His grace and through you standing behind me, upholding me in prayer.

I had the opportunity last Sunday morning to visit and play the cello for a Baptist church in Villa Mella, a nearby suburb of Santo Domingo. Several of our teachers here at Fountain of Life School attend Iglesia Bautista Quisqueyana, which has about 500 people in attendance every Sunday and has trained and sent out preachers to plant new churches. It was an encouragment for me to see what God has done and is doing in that community, and what God could do in the village of Juan Tomás with just a few servants fully dedicated to His work.

In the school, there has been a sudden rise in interest in singing -- and singing well. All of a sudden, students aren't overly embarrassed to ask for help in learning to sing, and we are hoping that this interest carries through into the next semester for the formation of a school choir.

Please pray for the students and teachers as we prepare for a special presentation for the parents in a couple of weeks. This presentation will be packed full of Bible truth! Please pray that as the students present and the parents listen, that their hearts would be receptive to the saving truth of the Gospel.

Trust in the Lord

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been a busy and exciting week, beginning with the Monday holiday (during which the guys from the got together for a baseball game), all the way through Saturday night, in which a group of teens and young adults from this church went to another small church 45 minutes away to encourage the believers there with special music and a message from Scripture. From relaxation and fellowship to class preparation and study, I have been constantly reminded this week of two things: TRUST in the Lord, and LEAN NOT unto thine own understanding.

As time goes on, and I learn more about the people and my students, I realize how much I really DON'T know. This serves as a continual reminder of the importance of depending on God for wisdom and guidance.

This has been especially applicable as the English teachers and I have begun to rehearse with the more advanced English students a drama in ENGLISH of the Book of Esther. As the students face the combined difficulties of effectively presenting a drama AND using a language other than their own, they are completely dependent upon us as instructors to teach them what they need to know in order to be successful. One day this week, an interesting debate came up over the use of a word in English. I backed up the other teachers in their correction (as the native speaker), and the student started to argue his point. At this moment, one of the teachers asked him, "Are you going to correct an American?" That settled the question. But that brought up the thought -- how many times in MY understanding do I try to argue my point, or simply depend on my own wisdom, and not God's direction? "Are you going to correct God?"

I hope each one of you has a blessed week, knowing that we have a God who is worthy of our trust and confidence.

New Every Morning

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Last week, as I was conversing with the group of adult English students who were waiting for their class to begin, we had the opportunity to meet Hector, a Dominican who returned to the country three weeks ago after spending some years in the U.S. As we spoke with him, we learned something of his rough past, but also that he now has the opportunity to "start over." He told us that he believes in God, but has come away from the U.S. confused about what it means to be a Christian. We were able to share some Scriptures with him, and are praising God for His "new mercies" to this man -- first in the deliverance from his past, and second for bringing him to a place and among people who can point him to Christ. We are praying that as Hector continues to seek the Lord, he will come to saving faith in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Just as God in His mercy and compassion has given this man another opportunity, He in His goodness to us gives us "new mercies" every morning. What a contrast between us sinful beings and the Holy God! We deserve to be "consumed" -- but His compassions fail not. We are unfaithful and untrustworthy -- but His faithfulness is eternal.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

New Horizons

This past Friday evening, the second graduating class of Fountain of Life School received their diplomas and are now looking forward with excitement to the new horizons that are opening up before them. Already several have seen a wider range of career opportunities available because of their education in the English language, making them more prepared for the business world than students coming from the public schools. But more importantly, they have expressed their gratefulness to God that they have also been prepared spiritually to go out into the world. As they begin their new journey, please be in prayer that God will continue His work in their lives and hearts.

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"
Hebrews 12:1-2a

As I think about these graduates who have successfully completed this part of their "race," I am reminded that the ultimate victory will only be through looking to Jesus. May we always remember Who is the "author and finisher" of our faith.